Abdominal belt



11126, 1966 v. SPASl 9 9 ABDOMINAL BELT Filed March '29, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. VALADISLAV M SPASIC ATTORN v. M. sPAslc ABDOMINAL BELT Aprfifl 26, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 29, 1963 HG. I

INVENTOR. VALADISLAV M. sPAs|6 United States Patent 3,247,842 ABDOMWAL BELT Vladislav M. Spasic, Pappelweg 30, Cologne-Longerich, Germany Filed Mar. 29, 1963, Ser. No. 26$,539 Claims priority, appiication Yugoslavia, Apr. 4, 1962, 3,576-P-490/62 Claims. ((11. 128-95) This invention relates broadly to body support belts and more particularly to an abdominal belt for supporting and keeping the human abdominal organs warm and which is especially comfortable for the wearer.

The belt according to the present invention is constructed so that the portion which engages the back of the wearer is considerably broader than the portion of the belt which engages the region of the abdomen or the umbilical and hypogastric abdominal regions. The straps which secure the belt on the user forms two loops around the body of the user in overlying relation to the main body portion of the belt and are connected together in the region of the abdomen. The loop formed by one of the straps passes and overlies the region of the kidneys, while the loop formed by the other strap is disposed below the stoutest part of the buttock of the wearer to thus distribute supporting pressures on the abdominal organs while restraining the normal movements of the body of the user as little as possible. The loops formed by the connecting straps are maintained in their positions in overlying relation with the main body portion of the belt by novel means which connect the straps at selected positions to the main body portion of the belt.

it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a construction of abdominal belt which overlies and supports the majority of the wearers abdominal organs.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction of abdominal belt which is especially comfortable to wear while at the same time fulfilling its healthful.

function.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction of abdominal belt which restrains the normal movements of the human body as little as possible even though it is disposed in overlying relation to the majority of the abdominal organs.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction of abdominal belt having a novel arrangement of straps for securing the belt on the body while at the same time supplying supporting pressure to abdominal organs and which are provided with novel means for maintaining the same in selected positions.

Other and further objects of the invention are set forth more fully in the specification hereinafter following by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the abdominal belt of the invention fastened in position on the abdominal region of a human torso;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the belt and torso as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a back view of the belt and torso shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, on a slightly enlarged scale;

FIG. 4 is a foreshortened plan view of the abdominal belt of the invention in a spread-out position, showing the side of the belt which engages the body of the user, and shown on a larger scale than in FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 5 is a partial transverse sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken substantially along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially along line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view through the widest portion of the belt on an enlarged scale, taken substantial- 3,247,842 Patented Apr. 26, 1966 1y along line 7-7 of FIG. 4; and particularly showing the arrangement of the supporting rib within the belt and the manner in which the connecting straps are maintained in position on the belt; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken substantially along line 8-8 of FIG. 7, and particularly showing the supporting rib adjusting device.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, the main body portion of the belt may be constructed of sponge rubber 1, or the like, and may be manufactured by casting or by uniting together several layers of sponge rubber or pliable plastic foam material. As shown in FIG. 4 the portion of the main body portion of the belt which engages the back of the wearer, as indicated at 2%, is considerably broader than the portion of the belt 21 which engages the abdomen region of the wearer. The back portion of the belt, as shown at Ztl, extends up the back of the wearer well above the region commonly referred to as the small of the back, as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The lower edge of the belt, on opposite sides of this region, is provided with upwardly curved edge portions 22 which engage the upper portion of the buttock, when in use, and are arranged so as not to interfere with the comfort of the wearer when in seated position.

From the widest portion of the belt 20 the upper edge thereof, as shown in FIG. 4, tapers downwardly to form a narrower band in the area of the hips and abdomen. In the hip area, the lower edge of the belt which overlies the thigh is provided with a cut-out portion, indicated at 23, with elastic or rubber straps 4 connected adjacent the lower edge of the belt between opposite edges of each cut-out portion. These cut-out portions 23 and resilient rubber straps 4 serve to inhibit the normal motions of the body as little as possible and allow a certain amount of side flexibility to the belt during walking, sitting and bending motions. In lieu of rubber straps 4 the entire area of the cut-out portions 23 may be filled with a rubber corner piece securely connected to the belt.

The main body portion of the abdominal belt, including the portions 20, 21 and 24, is enclosed in a layer of rigid material 6, such as linen, or flannel, with this material layer surrounded by an overlying loose cover 7, of cotton or the like, which is connected to the outer surface of the belt by means of snaps or buttons indicated generally at 25. This enables the belt covering 7, which lies against the body of the user when the belt is worn, to be unsnapped and removed for purposes of periodic cleaning.

If desired, a layer of down feathers may be added to i the belt construction between the sponge rubber material I and fabric layer 6 to increase the thermic protection afforded by the belt to the abdominal organs.

A plurality of supporting ribs 2, preferably of concave cross section, as indicated in FIG. 8, are encased within the foam rubber material 1 as particularly shown in FIGS. 1, 4, 7-and 8 at selected positions to insure the necessary inflexibility of the belt to give greater support to the body without inhibiting any free motion of the body during bending and sitting motions, and the like. The supporting ribs 2 are disposed substantially vertically within the belt, that is, longitudinal of the width thereof and are constructed of metal with the terminating ends thereof, as shown in FIG. 7, each provided with a protecting cover 5 of sponge rubber or fabric with the protecting covers and ends of the metal supporting ribs 2 secured to the sponge rubber material 1 of the main body portion of the belt by means of stitching 12 or other suitable connecting means. The protecting covers 5 prevent damage to the belt structure from the terminating ends of the metal supporting ribs and thus prevent injury aaezsea .2 to the wearer. The longer supporting ribs 2, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, are divided into upper and lower rib portions at their centers connected together by means of hinge members 3 having a pivot axis in the horizontal plane. The divided supporting ribs, having hinges 3, are preferably used only in the back portion of the belt as shown in FIGS. 4, with the hinges 3 being of the type which permit only motion of the ends of the supporting ribs adjacent the edges of the belt toward the body of the uesr and which prevent bending motion away from the body. This arrangement adds rigid support to the wearers back, but still allows the wearer free forward and sidewise bending movement. The supporting ribs are provided with a plurality of ventilating apertures 17 along their lengths to provide for the free passage of air through the sponge rubber material. The rigid fabric layer 5, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 3, is also provided with a plurality of ventilating apertures 9, especially throughout the back portion of the belt to provide for sufficient ventilation of the belt during use.

The longest supporting rib 2 which is disposed central- 1y of the back portion 20 of the belt, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, is provided with a pair of pressure regulating devices, indicated generally at 26, so that the vertical contour of the back portion of the belt can be adjusted to the needs of a particular individual with regard to the amount of support which may be afforded by the belt to the users back. These regulating devices thus adjust the degree of flexibility, away from the body of the user, of the back portion of the belt. An individual pressure regulating device 26 is connected to the top portion of the supporting rib 2 and the bottom portion thereof on either side of the hinge 3 and each device comprises a hook portion 15 having a relatively large surface area disposed on the outer surface of the belt and having a threaded lug extending through the fabric cover 6, sponge rubber material 1 interior of the belt, and through one of the ventilating openings 17 in substantially the middle part of the support rib section on which it is secured by means of nuts 16 or the like. When the belt is installed on the body of the user the connecting end straps 8 and 8, which secure the belt in position on the wearer, overlie the hook portions 15, so that When the straps are tightened they press the hook portions 15 and thus the pressure regulating devices inwardly toward the human body, and these in turn apply pressure to the upper and lower portions of the support rib 2 to pivot the ends of this rib about hinge 3, slightly inwardly toward the back of the wearer. The amount of movement of these ribs and the amount of support afforded thereby can be adjusted by screwing the nuts 16 on the lug closer to or further away from the hook portion 15. The nut and counter-nut are then locked to maintain the adjusted support of the belt. Each of the straps 8 and S are provided on their back surfaces in the area of the hook portions 15 with a loop member 18 securely fastened thereto and when the individual belt is in place the downwardly directed open ends of the hook portions 15 engage the loops 1? of the respective straps to securely retain the straps 8 and 8' in position below the stoutest part of the wearers :buttock and around the wearers back,

. respectively. Thus the hook portions 15 serve a twofold purpose, adjusting the back support of the belt and maintaining the straps, securing the belt to the wearer, in the desired positions as shown in FIGS. 1-3.

The front portion of the abdominal belt 21 on the surface, which contacts the body of the wearer, carries a substantially annular-shaped protruding ring or disc 11, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, open at the top for applying inwardly directed pressure to the abdominal area of the wearer or the umbilical and hypogastric abdominal regions. The lower enlarged edge of the abdomen disc 11 is particularly adapted for contacting the body in the hypogastric abdominal region. The size of the abdomen disc 11 is adapted or molded to the requirements and desires of the individual user and is constructed of foam rubber and may be molded integrally with the sponge rubber material 1 of the main body portion of the belt or may be constructed of a separate ring of sponge rubber secured as a layer to the sponge rubber forming the main body portion of the belt with the entire assembly then being covered with the fabric indicated at 6.

The portion of the belt indicated at 24, located at the opposite end of the main body portion, is provided with a slot indicated at 13 and preferably bordered in leather or other suitable material to prevent fraying of the slot edges. This slot, as will be explained later, allows the connecting strap on the opposite end of the belt to pass to the outside of the belt main body portion when installed in position on the human torso.

The front portions 21 and 22 of the abdominal belt are provided with end-extending connecting straps 8 and 8', respectively, constructed of flexible and yielding material such as elastic rubber, with each being of such a length as to enable the same to completely encircle the body when the belt is in position with the terminating ends connected to each other over the front abdominal portion of the wearer by means of a buckle 14 carried by one of the' straps to thus secure the abdominal belt on the wearer without impairing any of the normal body from riding up on the body while in used.

In using the belt, the back portion 20 is positioned adjacent the back of the person who next steps into the leg straps 10 so that they will be positioned as just indicated. The front portions 21 and 24 are then crossedover the front abdominal region with the abdomen disc 11 directed inwardly toward the wearer and the portion 24 overlying portion 21 outwardly thereof. Connecting strap 8 is passed through slot 13 in belt portion 24 to guide the same to overlie the outside of the abdominal belt, and this strap is passed around the hip region be hind the user below the stoutest part of the buttock, where its loop 18 is attached to hook portion 15 to maintain the same in that position, and from there it is passed around the opposite hip portion to overlie the abdomen area of the wearer. At the same time the end-extending connecting strap 8 of body portion 24 is directly opposite from connecting strap 3, being passed over the region of the kidneys or the left lumbar abdominal region, around the back of the user in the area of the waistline where its loop 18 is connected to hook portion 15 on the upper portion of the back supporting rib to maintain the same in position, and from thence it is passed over the opposite kidney region or right lumbar abdominal region and is connected to the terminating end of strap 8 by means of a buckle 14 in the region of the abdomen. The straps 8 and 8 thus each encircles the body once to provide two loops around the body applying pressures to the abdominal belt at desired positions to maintain a firm back support and support for the abdominal organs.

It will be noted that the supporting rib located centrally of the back portion 20 is pulled inwardly at the top by means of strap 8' while the supporting rib is pulled inwardly at the bottom by means of strap 8, and since these straps have means for always maintaining them in the proper position the back of the wearer is supported with the desired firmness at all times. The straps 8 and 8' can be tightened by means of buckle 14 to the desired pressure, and the contour of the back of the belt can be adjusted by means of the pressure regulating devices 26 to adjust the back supporting pressures to the individual wants of the wearer.

While I have described my invention in certain preferred embodiments, it is realized that modifications can be made, and it is to be understood that no limitations upon the invention are intended other than those which may be imposed by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows: I

l. A waist encircling belt for supporting and keeping the human abdominal organs of the wearer warm in eluding, a wide back portion constituting a back supporter, end extensions connected to said back portion, terminating end portions on said end extensions, said end extensions adapted to overlap adjacent the terminating end portions to form an abdominal supporter, a rigid support member connected in and across the width of said wide back portion, a strap connected to each terminating end portion within the straps and opposite end extensions adapted to extend oppositely to each other, one of said straps adapted to overlie said end extensions and wide back portion adjacent the top edges thereof to form an encircling loop around the waist encircling belt in one direction, the other of said straps adapted to overlie said end extensions and wide back portion adjacent the lower edges thereof to form an encircling loop around the waist encircling belt in the opposite direction, said straps having terminating ends adapted for overlapping connection overlying the abdominal supporter formed by the overlapped end extensions, selectively connectable means connected adjacent opposite ends of said rigid support member and extending outwardly of said wide back portion and adapted to engage and maintain said straps in spaced position adjacent the edges of said wide back portion, whereby said straps are adapted to supply supporting pressure to the abdominal organs through the abdominal supporter and supporting pressure to the back through said selectively connectable means, rigid support member and wide back portion.

2. A waist encircling belt for supporting and keeping the human abdominal organs of the wearer warm and supporting the back of the wearer including, a wide back portion constituting a back upporter, and extensions connected to said back portion, terminating end portions on said end extensions, said end extensions adapted to overlap adjacent the terminating end portions to form an abdominal supporter, one of said end extensions having an aperture therethrough, a rigid support member connected interior and across the Width of said wide back portion, said wide back portionhaving top and lower edge portions connected with said rigid support member, a strap connected to each terminating end portion with the straps and opposite end extensions adapted to extend oppositely to each other, one of said straps adapted to overlie said end extensions and wide back portion adjacent the top edges thereof to form an encircling loop around the waist encircling belt in one direction, the other of said straps adapted to pass through the aperture in said one end extension and overliesaid end extensions and wide back portion adjacent the lower edges thereof to form an encircling loop around the waist encircling belt in the opposite direction, said straps having terminating ends adapted for overlapping connection overlying the abdominal supporter formed by the overlapped end extensions, hook means connected adjacent opposite ends of said rigid support member and extending outwardly of said wide back portion and adapted to engage and maintain said straps in spaced position adjacent the edges of said wide back portion, whereby said straps are adapted to supply supporting pressure to the abdominal organs through the abdominal supporter and supporting pressure to the back through said hook means, rigid support memher and wide back portion.

3. An abdominal belt as set forth in claim 1, in which said rigid support member is a rigid generally vertical support rib connected interior of said wide back portion, said rigid support rib including upper and lower sections, and pivot hinge means connecting said upper and lower sections for relative movement from the vertical inwardly of the belt when in position on the wearer, whereby said rigid support rib and said wide back portion adjacent thereto are adapted to pivot only toward the body of the wearer.

4. An abdominal belt as set forth in claim 3 in which said selectively connectable means extend interior of said wide back portion into connection with opposite ends of said hinged rigid support rib, said straps overlying said selectively connectable means, and said selectively connectable means connected to transfer inward pressure from said straps to said rigid support rib to provide positive support for the wearers back.

5. An abdominal belt as set forth in claim 4- in which said selectively connectable means are adjustably connected to said rigid support rib at substantially right angles for adjusting the degree of pivoting of opposite ends of the support rib about the pivot hinge means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS ADELE M. EAGER,

LOUIS R. PRINCE, Examiner.

Primary Examiner. 

1. A WAIST ENCIRCLING BELT FOR SUPPORTING AND KEEPING THE HUMAN ABDOMINAL ORGANS OF THE WEARER WARM INCLUDING, A WIDE BACK PORTION CONSTITUTING A BACK SUPPORTER, END EXTENSIONS CONNECTED TO SAID BACK PORTION, TERMINATING END PORTIONS ON SAID END EXTENSIONS, SAID END EXTENSIONS ADAPTED TO OVERLAP ADJACENT THE TERMINATING END PORTIONS TO FORM AN ABDOMINAL SUPPORTER, A RIGID SUPPORT MEMBER CONNECTED IN AND ACROSS THE WIDTH OF SAID WIDE BACK PORTION, A STRAP CONNECTED TO EACH TERMINATING END PORTION WITHIN THE STRAPS AND OPPOSITE END EXTENSIONS ADAPTED TO EXTEND OPPOSITELY TO EACH OTHER, ONE OF SAID STRAPS ADAPTED TO OVERLIE SAID END EXTENSIONS AND WIDE BACK PORTION ADJACENT THE TOP EDGES THEREOF TO FORM AN ENCIRCLING LOOP AROUND THE WAIST ENCIRCLING BELT IN ONE DIRECTION, THE OTHER OF SAID STRAPS ADAPTED TO OVERLIE SAID END EXTENSIONS AND WIDE BACK PORTION ADJACENT THE LOWER EDGES THEREOF TO FORM AN ENCIRCLING LOOP AROUND THE WAIST ENCIRCLING BELT IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, SAID STRAPS HAVING TERMINATING ENDS ADAPTED FOR OVERLAPPING CONNECTION OVERLYING THE ABDOMINAL SUPPORTER FORMED BY THE OVERLAPPED END EXTENSIONS, SELECTIVELY CONNECTABLE MEANS CONNECTED ADJACENT OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID RIGID SUPPORT MEMBER AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY OF SAID WIDE BACK PORTION AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE AND MAINTAIN SAID STRAPS IN SPACED POSITION ADJACENT THE EDGES OF SAID WIDE BACK PORTION, WHEREBY SAID STRAPS ARE ADAPTED TO SUPPLY SUPPORTING PRESSURE TO THE ABDOMINAL ORGANS THROUGH THE ABDOMINAL SUPPORTER AND SUPPORTING PRESSURE TO THE BACK THROUGH SAID SELECTIVELY CONNECTABLE MEANS, RIGID SUPPORT MEMBER AND WIDE BACK PORTION. 